Former Inmate and Accomplice Indicted for Targeting Ill Veterans in Fraud Scheme

Darryl Lamont Young, 46, and his accomplice Aqeelah Ngiesha Williams, 27, have been indicted for a fraudulent scheme that targeted severely ill veterans. Young was previously an inmate of the Washington State Department of Corrections. The alarming nature of their actions was underscored by U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman, who announced the allegations of conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Young, while incarcerated, employed correctional facility phones to impersonate a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee from December 2021 to April 2023, according to prosecutors. He contacted a variety of medical facilities to obtain personal information from veterans in intensive care units. Gorman emphasized the duo's attempt to exploit veterans who were already in crisis, stating, "The conduct in this case is truly shocking."

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Williams would facilitate three-way conversations with the victims or their representatives after Young had obtained sensitive information. Young, who was posing as a VA employee, purported to provide information regarding financial benefits and requested bank account information. It is estimated that the couple stole approximately $8,000 from over 60 victims by targeting over 30 medical facilities and executing 130 fraudulent transactions.

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If convicted, both individuals will be subject to substantial penalties, including a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft and up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service are conducting the investigation. The indictment emphasizes the ongoing endeavors to safeguard vulnerable populations from fraud.

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